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Press release

Deputy Premier and Minister for Foreign Affairs Massimo D'Alema met today at the Ministry in Rome with the Prime Minister of East Timor, Ramos Horta, accompanied by Foreign Minister José Luis Guterres.

The meeting started out by addressing East Timor's political prospects, also in light of previous signals of instability and ahead of next year's general elections.

Prime Minister Horta emphasised how grateful both his government and the people of East Timor were to Italy for its important contribution both to the independence process and the establishment of democratic institutions. In particular, Horta said he hoped that Italy's help could be assured also in the future, particularly with regard to the UNMIT mission the United Nations is preparing to send to East Timor.

For his part Minister D'Alema confirmed the close attention Italy pays to political developments in East Timor, in order to contribute both bilaterally and through multinational bodies, to the process of national reconciliation, the consolidation of democracy and the country's social and economic development.